Dreams Are Best

I just think that dreams are best,

Just to sit and fancy things;

Give your gold no acid test,

Try not how your silver rings;

Fancy women pure and good,

Fancy men upright and true:

Fortressed in your solitude,

Let Life be a dream to you.

For I think that Thought is all;

Truth's a minion of the mind;

Love's ideal comes at call;

As ye seek so shall ye find.

But ye must not seek too far;

Things are never what they seem:

Let a star be just a star,

And a woman — just a dream.

O you Dreamers, proud and pure,

You have gleaned the sweet of life!

Golden truths that shall endure

Over pain and doubt and strife.

I would rather be a fool

Living in my Paradise,

Than the leader of a school,

Sadly sane and weary wise.

O you Cynics with your sneers,

Fallen brains and hearts of brass,

Tweak me by my foolish ears,

Write me down a simple ass!

I'll believe the real “you”

Is the “you” without a taint;

I'll believe each woman too,

But a slightly damaged saint.

Yes, I'll smoke my cigarette,

Vestured in my garb of dreams,

And I'll borrow no regret;

All is gold that golden gleams.

So I'll charm my solitude

With the faith that Life is blest,

Brave and noble, bright and good,...

Oh, I think that dreams are best!